Shoulder-brace and skirt-supporter



(No Model.)

J. STEWART. SHOULDER BEACH AND SKIRT SUPPORTER.

No. 373,699. Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

Z a-wen i072 mamas as UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAM-ES STEWART, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOULDER-BRACE AND SKlRT-SUPlORTER.

SPECIE ICAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,699, dated November 22, 1887.

Application filed Ortoberii. 1857. Serial No. 251,278. (No model.)

1?: all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES STEWART, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new 5 and useful Improvement in Shoulder-Braces and Skirt-Supporters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in shoulder-braces and skirt-supporters; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of devices which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a view showing the same as applied to the body.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the d rawings, a (4 represent two shoulderloops formed of textile fabric or any other suitable material. Extending between these loops, and sowed or otherwise secured to the same, is a hack strap, 1), composed of an elastie fabric of woven cloth and rubber or other suitable material. Extending from the lower portions of the loops at a, and sewed or otherwise fastened thereto, are short bands or strips of cloth or other textile fabric 0 c, to the ends of which are secured the buckles d (1. Engaging with the teeth of the buckles are bands or strips (3 e, which are suitably sewed or secured to bridle-strips ff, the ends of which bridle-strips are sewed or otherwise fastened to a belt, g, at one end of which is a buckle, It, the belt being provided with buttons i, for thepurpose of sccu ring the skirts of the wearer to the belt.

The operation is as follows: In adjusting and placing my improved shoulder-brace and skirt-supporter to the body the arms are passed through the shoulder-loops a a, as shown in Fig. 2, and the belt 9 is then fastened around the waist. Owing to the buckles d, the distance between the belt {I and the shoulderloops a may be easily regulated. By means of the elastic back-band b a pressure is exerted on the shoulders through the loops a, tending to keep the shoulders of the wearer drawn back in their proper position, while at the same time the elasticity of the band permits of an easy and free movement of the shoulders.

I am aware that shoulder-braces and skirtsupporters are not new; and I do not desire to claim the same, broadly. The advantages of my improvement are, however, the lightness and simplicity of the device, which may be worn without discomfort, and is equally effective as the 'more complicated, heavy, and

cumbersome devices heretofore in use. it may be easily adjusted so as to suit and fit people of different sizes, without trouble, by merely lengthening or shortening the straps e in the buckles d.

My improved device may be easilyadapted for gentlcmens wear with but slight modifications.

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a shoulder-brace and skirt-supporter, the combination of the 'shoulder-loops a, elastic band I), buckles d, bridlestraps e f, and the belt 9, substantially as and for the purposes 

